also, I came across this poem and I can't exactly explain what I love so much about it but ugh. my heart. I believe the original poem is in Polish.

The Envoy of Mr Cogito by Zbigniew Herbert

Go where those others went to the dark boundary for the golden fleece of nothingness your last prize

go upright among those who are on their knees among those with their backs turned and those toppled in the dust

you were saved not in order to live you have little time you must give testimony

be courageous when the mind deceives you be courageous in the final account only this is important

and let your helpless Anger be like the sea whenever your hear the voice of the insulted and beaten

let you sister Scorn not leave you for the informers executioners cowards - they will win they will go to your funeral with relief will throw a lump of earth the woodborer will write your smoothed-over biography

and do not forgive truly it is not in your power to forgive in the name of those betrayed at dawn

beware however of unnecessary pride keep looking at your clown's face in the mirror repeat: I was called - weren't there better ones than I

beware of dryness of heart love the morning spring the bird with an unknown name the winter oak light on a wall the splendour of the sky they don't need your warm breath they are there to say: no one will console you

be vigilant - when the light on the mountains gives the sign- arise and go as long as blood turns in the breast your dark star

repeat old incantations of humanity fables and legends because this is how you will attain the good you will not attain repeat great words repeat them stubbornly like those crossing the desert who perished in the sand

and they will reward you with what they have at hand with the whip of laughter with murder on a garbage heap

go because only in this way you will be admitted to the company of cold skulls to the company of your ancestors: Gilgamesh Hector Roland the defenders of the kingdom without limit and the city of ashes